By NY

In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

My dear and beloved Barakat and Abu-Salha families,

Assalamu alaikum WarahmatuAllahi Wabarakatu,

My heart aches.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammed  once said,

The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”.

I don’t know that I have ever felt the words of this hadith come to life as it has right now. Surely the words of Allah and His Messenger  are true.

The Ummah aches ya habayib, for three souls that it has never had the pleasure of meeting. What greatness is this? What honor, to be loved by an entire nation, an entire world? What beautiful parenting. What beautiful children.

I, along with many around the world, sleep thinking about your children and wake up thinking about your children.

I can’t help but think that Allah loves them, as He has caused the entire nation and world to love them.

Sweet Deah, Yusor, and Razan are so very blessed. You are so very blessed. You have won. You have raised children and you have been blessed to be the parents of children who have accomplished so much, who have been winners in this world and will be winners in the next inshaAllah; children who have, in life and in passing, changed this world; children who have been used as examples of beauty and purity, who Allah has used to change the narrative of Islam in America and around the world.

You have to agree with me. They are amazing, aren’t they? They are blessed, aren’t they? You are blessed, aren’t you? To call these heroes your children. You are indeed blessed.

To my dear aunts, Khala Layla and Khala Ameera, you have no idea how much I hurt for you. I am not a mother and so I cannot say I know how you feel. I can only imagine it and that alone hurts. I know, even without having children, that losing a child is the worst nightmare of any parent and I wish all of this was just that, a nightmare. I hate that this is a reality for you. But again and again, I remember that Allah NEVER burdens a soul with anything beyond what it can bear. And that reminds me of how strong you and your families are.

The fact that Allah tested your family with this very difficult trial is a testament to your strength. I pray that He gives you more of it, and guides you through every part of this tragic loss. I find comfort in knowing that you will get through this and, inshaAllah, because of this, your children will hold your hands and walk you into Jannah with them. Ameen ya Rab.

Rejoice. Rejoice.

To my dear uncles, Khal Namee and Khal Mohammad, the amazing strength that you have shown in the past few days inspires me and inspires this Ummah. We are in awe of you both, and of your whole family. It’s no wonder Allah tested your family with this test. You have done such an amazing job handling it.

Your words of peace and forgiveness are ones I don’t know that I would be able to say were I in your situation. Your faith is incredible. You and your families submission to the Will of Allah is tremendous and I hope, with all of my heart, that you and your entire families are rewarded for that with the absolute best of this world and with Al-Firdaws in the akhira, ya Khawaaly.

Rejoice. Rejoice.

To my sister and brothers, Suzanne, Yousef, Farris, and Basem, I cannot begin to imagine your pain. But you, too, have shown such tremendous strength and such beautiful Tawakkul. You have all been agents of change, following the footsteps of your beautiful siblings. Basem, you have such a great example, as do we, in your amazing brother, Deah, and your sisters Yusor and Razan. Follow in their footsteps, habiby. You have shown the rest of us what faith is, what strength is, what will-power is. You have taught the rest of us how to act, how to speak, how to hold yourself up.

I pray that Allah holds you up through this most difficult time. I hope and pray, ya ikhwaany, that you will be reunited with your….our….beloved Deah, Yusor, and Razan in the highest of Jannah, sitting with them, telling them how they have inspired you, and how you held up their legacy, laughing, rejoicing.

Rejoice, Rejoice.

My uncle, Dr. Abu-Salha, you made a beautiful statement in one of your news appearances. You said, of our three beloveds,

They are in a different world now. They did not vanish or end.”

Indeed, they have not vanished. They have only beat us to the final destination. One we will all undoubtedly return to. I pray that you, as well as this Ummah, is reunited with them in Jannat Al Firdaws as they have caused us to unite in this world.

JazakumAllah alf alf khair, my two beautiful families. By the Will, Mercy, and Guidance of Allah you raised beautiful children who have reminded us how to live so that when we die, our absence is felt by those we helped.

JazakumAllah alf alf khair. By the Will, Mercy, and Guidance of Allah , after the tragic loss of these beautiful children, our children, our brother and our sisters, you taught us how to act and how to respond to hate. You, along with sweet Deah, Yusor, and Razan, showed the world the essence of our beautiful deen. And

 

 

Is the reward for good [anything] but good? (55:60)

No, for you know that Allah’s Promise is so very true.

Rejoice, Rejoice.

By the Will and Mercy of our most Kind and Wise Lord, your reward will be nothing but good.